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(From left): Akshat Raghuwanshi, Tushar Raheja and Sairaj Patil. (Instagram)Every year, the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy throws up a fresh fairy tale—an unpolished diamond that dazzles under the domestic sun. The 2025 edition promises to be the same, as a new generation of fearless six-hitters looks to grab the eyeballs and thereby win the attention of IPL scouts.
Madhya Pradesh
In the last edition of Madhya Pradesh Premier League, the explosive right-hander plundered 239 runs in four matches at a strike rate of 177.04, smashing 16 sixes, for Indore Pink Panthers. A no-look upper cut for six over the wicket-keeper is a signature shot of his. Among his admirers is Venkatesh Iyer, his captain for the franchise. “The way he played shots all around the ground, at 21, I haven’t seen a more talented player. I really keep my fingers crossed; big things are waiting for him in the future,” he said.
He goes by the name “Rocket Raheja” in Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) circles. Sixes roll off his blade like rockets, too. He struck 32 in nine games, en route compiling 488 runs at a strike rate of 185.55, powering IDream Tiruppur Tamizhans to the title. He began as a middle-order batter coach before RX Murali pushed him up the order. He idolises MS Dhoni and Matthew Hayden, and, like the Australian, likes to walk down the track to the pacers.
Rajasthan
Kevin Pietersen quote-tweeted a video of his batting. Rajasthan’s Kartik Sharma is a name that is doing the rounds in domestic cricket after soaring into the spotlight in last season’s SMAT. The middle-order batter hit 17 sixes in seven matches, and his power-hitting gathered the attention of stalwarts, including Ravichandran Ashwin. “He is young and baggage-free. He is a power hitter in the middle order. You can say that you can bank on his talent. It is easier to bat there, but for a youngster to come in and create impact in the middle order in T20 cricket is not easy,” Ashwin praised him on his YouTube channel.
Saurashtra
Rana was a key contributor to Anmol Kings Halar reaching the final of the Saurashtra Pro T20 League 2025, where he topped the six-hitting charts with 25 maximums in nine matches. He also showed big-match temperament by making 68 runs off 41 balls with two fours and six sixes in the semi-final against Dita Gohilwad Titans.
The wicketkeeper batter had an exceptional Delhi Premier League (DPL) 2025 campaign with South Delhi Superstarz, where, as captain, he belted 339 runs in 10 matches. The right-handed Dahiya thundered 29 maximums. The highlight was a 69 off 21 balls, punctuated with two fours and nine sixes in a match truncated to seven overs, that helped his side overhaul a target of 134 runs with a ball to spare.
Mumbai
A late bloomer from Palghar, he was one of the brightest stars in the T20 Mumbai 2025 when he made 233 runs in six matches and topped the six-hitting charts with 16 maximums. His exploits helped the Eagle Thane Strikers reach the semi-finals. The 29-year-old’s go-to shots are the pull and the straight hit down the ground. He was part of the Mumbai Indians squad, which went on a UK tour in 2022, and a strong SMAT campaign could bolster his IPL prospects.
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